SSR Review!Where is the magic? I could have had this view at home...

[JasonDVC]

We did a DVC and SSR tour last summer and then were shown the AKV models. I told our guide at that time that if it were just SSR for sale, we would not buy. We loved the AKV models and bought there.

If, at that time, only SSR was for sale, we would not be DVC members today. (note: we were not aware of resales at that time)

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Hi everyone!
I guess we just think that every disney place has its own " special" feel.

Ditto! and to the Disboards!

 

[mybabesuz]

I thought the Grandstand area had a playground...

 

[crisi]

It is possible that after a long day on their feet, they just don't want to walk that far and they aren't lazy at all - but rather have already done their ten miles per day of walking at Disney.

We stay at the Boardwalk. We often walk to/from Epcot and sometime to/from the Studios. But there are days, particularly the ed of days, were we will sit and wait for the boat.

Disney is a LOT of walking for almost everyone (you can use an ECV and get by without a lot of walking). Pushing a stroller all day isn't fun either. I can completely understand why normal, active people might decide that the far end of the hallway at BWV is too far away, or why they might not want to stay out at Grandstand. Particularly the condo style resorts in the heat.....

 

[SaratogaShan]

I am expecting a lot from Kidani Village and the DVC claim that the pool area will blow away Storm Along Bay.

Wow....I think you are setting yourself up for dissapointment! The size of the pool is about the size of high rock springs pool at SSR. The kid's play area looks nice, but then again I like the water play areas at SSR as well.

 

[DisneyDebRob]

Thank you BeaslyBoo!

 

[BEASLYBOO]

I can completely understand why normal, active people might decide that the far end of the hallway at BWV is too far away, ...

The only time I really mind the "Twilight Zone" corridor is when I have 10 bags of groceries! Also, when you have little ones and you want them to have just a quick dip in the pool, being far away is inconvenient. Yet again, why DVC works for everyone, from the "fittest" to " the not".

 

[cheezNE1]

It is possible that after a long day on their feet, they just don't want to walk that far and they aren't lazy at all - but rather have already done their ten miles per day of walking at Disney.

We stay at the Boardwalk. We often walk to/from Epcot and sometime to/from the Studios. But there are days, particularly the ed of days, were we will sit and wait for the boat.

Disney is a LOT of walking for almost everyone (you can use an ECV and get by without a lot of walking). Pushing a stroller all day isn't fun either. I can completely understand why normal, active people might decide that the far end of the hallway at BWV is too far away, or why they might not want to stay out at Grandstand. Particularly the condo style resorts in the heat.....

exactly how i felt last time. After long walk inside Disney, took the bus back, another 5 min. walk back to the room. I needed coffee... no way am i walking again, got in my car and drove. Yup, i'm lazy when it comes to something simple like getting coffee. But I wouldn't mind walking all day at the park. So Lazy is harsh word for Disney vacationer who just doesnt want that additional 15 min. walk. I'm sure if they were really lazy, they wouldn't come to disney for vacation.

 

[Snookies]

Just by way of info:

There are a bunch of child friendly, hotel run activities that run throughout the day at Jambo...and by the preview, it looks like there will be more at Kidani.

Jambo hosts an arcade, pool, and playground that are much more "relatively close" to even the furthest flung DVC units than the same amenities at units furthest from them at SSR. You also have the "fire pit" stories at dusk (something it looks like they will continue at Kidani, given it, too, has it's own fire pit).

Kidani will host a water play area, tennis courts, basketball courts, shuffleboard (I think), a community hall area (with computer games, board games, etc), a library (which isn't, really....but will host those aforementioned activites), and it's own arcade.

All that AND the lure of watching the animals from the different public viewing areas OR your balcony. The nightvision goggle experience is something that I'd rate as a "must do" at AKL, as well. Our kids look forward to it every trip.

I've never stayed at SSR...so I'm certainly not going to say "there's nothing to do" because I haven't had to look. And I'm not trying to make a this for that comparison between the two resorts, either. But we've stayed at AKL a bunch of times, and we usually have a "resort day" smack dab in the middle of our stay. We've never had a problem finding stuff to do with our kids, there...and that was BEFORE Kidani.

I usually lurk rather than post, but pilferk's post caught my eye. Having stayed just about everywhere on property including AKL & SSR (except Kidani & BLT), I think pilferk is accurate when posting that "Jambo hosts an arcade, pool, and playground that are much more 'relatively close' to even the furthest flung DVC units than the same amenities at units furthest from them at SSR."

In fairness to SSR, however, note that SSR also hosts a water play area (2 of them if memory serves), tennis courts, basketball courts (I think), shuffleboard (I think), a community hall area (with computer games, board games, activities, etc), and it's own arcade.

Just my 2 cents...

 

[rkwier]

We stayed in Congress Park on DP this last January for my birthday. We thought that the grounds were beautiful and that it was such a relaxed, peaceful setting. DH was under a lot of stress at work during that time, and SSR was the perfect place to get away from that. We were happy to walk where we needed and nothing was really that far. We did not feel that the buses were a problem, but then again, we were just thankful that transportation was provided. (We even spent a day riding buses, monorails, and ferries just for grins to visit the other resorts. It was really fun! ) We will be staying there again in September without hesitation.

 

[jamie&Greg]

Thanks for everyone’s posts!! I love that the DIS is a place to share tips etc.

My point simply is this; you can step outside of Disney property and have your choice of 100+ resorts with the same amenities, views, even bus service as SSR. To me – it has no pixie dust. To others it does. To each their own! We still were in Disney and still had a GRAT time!

I’m looking forward to AKL and returning to VWL in December!

 

[Mississippian]

Whenever I go to WDW, I do a TON of walking; so much so that I get blisters on the bottom of my foot and have to use moleskin. However, to have to walk a quarter-mile or more everytime someone wants a drink, or wants to swim, or wants to go to the arcade, or wants to buy a newspaper is just too much.

The main pool is far more than two minutes away from many of the units.

 

[Ms. WDW]

I'm sorry you didn't like SSR. We absolutely love it and find that when we want that relaxing vacation we'll go there instead of the Boardwalk. Unlike some, I can see the "Disney Magic" at SSR. What's important so some may not be so important to another person. And quite frankly, I love having the Spa right there.

But everyone has their own idea of what a Disney Resort should or should not be and let's face it; if everyone like the same thing how boreing would that be???

 

[BEASLYBOO]

But everyone has their own idea of what a Disney Resort should or should not be and let's face it; if everyone like the same thing how boreing would that be???

It wouldn't be just boring Mrs. WDW,
then we'd all complain that we couldn't get in at the 11 month mark! As it is, OKW gets a bad rap a lot of the time just like SSR, but guess what? a lot of people set aside their personal preferences to save points and then even though it's my home resort, I can't get the week that I want there! Oh Well

Jamie & Gregg, enjoy trying out all of the other resorts!

 

[jamie&Greg]

Jamie & Gregg, enjoy trying out all of the other resorts! [/QUOT

Thanks - and thanks to everyone else who posted!

 

[jbrowna]

We have an almost 2 YO DD and being able to hang at the resort is key. We came back to our room one night and our DD got a burst of energy and we wondered what we could do for an hour there! Well, nothing really. We literally had to take a bus 2 bus stops away for a playground and walk clear across the resort to get back – UGH!

Interesting. When we stayed a couple of years ago with our DGD (then around 3) -- the same thing happened with the late night "burst of energy" thing. We took her down to the Grandstand pool where she loved playing in the "car wash" (what she called the horse-starting-gate water feature) 'til well after midnight. As I recall from my own kids' younger days, even a walk round the block can be an adventure when one's imagination is used! No ipod or handheld required. Just showin' my age...

 

[kikiq]

Whenever I go to WDW, I do a TON of walking; so much so that I get blisters on the bottom of my foot and have to use moleskin. However, to have to walk a quarter-mile or more everytime someone wants a drink, or wants to swim, or wants to go to the arcade, or wants to buy a newspaper is just too much.

The main pool is far more than two minutes away from many of the units.

Well, I'll waiting to see how it goes when Kidani is completed and someone has to take the rooms in the far reaches. But I will say this, it is easier to take any walk if you are inside with ac.

And FYI, my family prefers the quiet pools of SSR over the main pool, so walking to a pool is not an issue.

 

[kikiq]

My point simply is this; you can step outside of Disney property and have your choice of 100+ resorts with the same amenities, views, even bus service as SSR. To me – it has no pixie dust. To others it does. To each their own! We still were in Disney and still had a GRAT time!

Yes you can and some of those resorts outshine all of the DVC resorts even AKV, but they aren't onsite. Plus it's not just the buildings that provide the pixie dust, it's also the CMs that work that resort. (please no snarky remarks about Mousekeeping or any CMs who are having a bad day) My DD is going to be in the WDW College Program for 6 months and she is looking forward to making guests day, giving them a smile and making memories.

I'm sorry, we've stay in some really nice hotels in our lifetime and club level service, wonderful luxurious service, but isn't Disney. We've had the "kool - aid" and it really doesn't matter where we are, just as long as we are at Disney. Heck, for our 33rd anniversary,(yes, we've been around for awhile) my DH CHOOSE WDW over Hawaii, Europe, and the Galapagos Islands. And he's at DLR several times a week for meetings.

 

[Entropy]

jamie&greg is right. SSR stinks, nothing to do, too big, no kiddie playgrounds. Nobody should book there, nobody should buy there. Go elsewhere please!

 

[twinklebug]

Sammie - I meant of the parking lot . I can tottaly see how some people could like SSR - just not me.

For night life - ya prob. good (minus the long walk to the boat). With a two year old - night life and long walks don't work . We were a FAR way from anything and as I said it was boring! I think AKL will be AWESOME with all the animails and neat places to sit!

As I said it was fine! Clean, pretty etc. just not Disneyish IMO! Could stay at any resort offsite and get bigger room's with same feel!

I agree that SSR seems to lack that 'Disney' feel, but then again I've never been to the real Saratoga Springs and I've heard Disney did a wonderful job of bringing that feel to the resort.

Despite this, we stayed at SSR over New Years & we loved it - as a previous poster mentioned, you do not hear your neighbors there at all (I loved this!). The rooms were clean, we were in Grandstand right off the pool and IMO it was not a long walk to the main pool at all. Artist's Palate was a great place to hang out & the service at the resort from everyone from front desk to bell services and maintenance was great. The bus service was phenomenal too. Never waited more than 10 minutes for a bus, being the first stop the bus is empty to start with & I can deal with a tour around SSR when anticipating a fun day & when returning 'home' I really, really want to be that first stop. Worked for me!

To all: I believe the OP understands that the "Disney" feel is subjective. Hey, to some folk, only the Values resorts with their giant iconic cartoon characters is that No, I don't get it either, but each to their own.
To others, Disney means relaxation and SSR is the ticket. I've stayed at 5 dvcs to date... the only one that disagreed with my style was OKW, & that was simply because we were far back in the resort with no car, there are no walking sidewalks, the internal bus was slow to come & the kids wanted to spend all day at the main pool - I'd stay there again in the future, but it would not be my first choice.